According the announcer, Suguri was the first Japanese skater to win an isu championship. What about Ito and Sato? Was that an error or a loop-hole?

WHAAAAA? So the ISU lost its status as the governing body of figure skating when Ito and Sato won the world championship titles in 1989 and 1994?

Ito won Skate Canada back in the 1984-1985 season, so I believe that is the first ISU event win for a Japanese lady singles skater. GP events are not considered to be ISU championships. Championships are Europeans, 4CC, and Worlds.

Oh wow, I really love Cynthia Phaneuf's gold glittery dress (looks almost exactly like the one Oksana Baiul wore for her "It's A Wonderful World" pro. program). And Alissa looks so lovely, reminiscent of Sasha Cohen when she first skated her "Romeo & Juliet" masterpiece that one year. Also Fumie always looks lovely, dark royal blue looks good on her, as well as her lightened hair (hard to believe she's the oldest out there, she honestly looks about 14 or 15 yrs. old)!